Caribbean storm Lisa headed for Belize to become hurricane
This satellite image taken at 8.40am ET and provided by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Lisa under Cuba in the Caribbean Sea on Nov 1, 2022. Lisa is forecast to make landfall in Central America later in the week as a likely hurricane. (Image: NOAA via AP)
MEXICO CITY: Tropical Storm Lisa will become a hurricane overnight, the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast on Tuesday (Nov 1), as the churning weather system is likely to provoke "life-threatening" storm surges in Belize, Honduras and parts of Mexico.
Lisa is expected to "rapidly intensify" into a hurricane before passing over Honduras' Bay Islands early Wednesday and reaching Belize's coast later in the day, according to the Miami-based NHC.
Belize's coastline, known for its corral reefs, and Mexico's Caribbean-facing Yucatan peninsula are both home to major tourist destinations.
The coast of Belize could see water levels rise by as much as 1.22m to 2.13m with a smaller storm surge of 61cm to 1.22m possible along the southeastern Yucatan, the NHC predicted.
Lisa's maximum sustained winds reached 105kmh on Tuesday afternoon, while it moved westward at a speed of 24kmh, according to the NHC.
A tropical storm converts to a category 1 hurricane once sustained winds reach 119kmh.
A hurricane warning was in effect for all of Belize's coast and Guatemala's northern Atlantic coast, where the NHC warned residents to rush preparations to "protect life and property".
Lisa is expected to intensify on Wednesday as it approaches Belize, before likely weakening as it passes through Guatemala on Thursday and then crosses into southern Mexico.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for part of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, including the Mexican border city of Chetumal just north of Belize, along with the northern coasts of Honduras and Guatemala.
Rainfall totaling 10cm to 15cm is forecast for Belize, the Bay Islands, northern Guatemala and the southeast portion of the Mexico's Chiapas state.
